Cavalry FC advance in Canadian Championship with 4:1 aggregate win over Pacific FC

Canadian Premier League’s Cavalry FC advanced to Qualifying Round 2 of the Canadian Championship with a 2:1 (4:1 aggregate) victory over the CPL’s Pacific FC on 22 May at home in Calgary, AB. Cavalry entered the second leg with a 2:0 aggregate lead following a shut-out victory in Victoria, BC the week prior. The Canadian Premier League team will face Forge FC on 4 June in Hamilton, ON.

Cavalry opened the scoring in the 2’ when Julian Büscher swung his free kick into the box and Pacific FC captain Marcus Haber’s clearing attempt ended up his own net.Pacific’s best opportunity of the first half came in the 20’. Ben Fisk was able to make a run in behind the Cavalry defence and get a shot away but keeper Nikolas Giantsopoulos made the save and the home side cleared the rebound away from danger.

As Pacific pushed forward in search of their first goal, the Cavalry attackers were able to use their pace to get in behind the defence and create goal-scoring opportunities. Jordan Brown had a great chance on the break in the 32’ but just as he took his shot, Ryan McCurdy was able to slide in and make an important block.

It was more of the same early in the second half as Cavalry continued to exploit the open space created as the visitors searched for an equalizer. Pasquotti made a blistering run down the right flank in the 58’ and took a hard shot from a wide angle that Pacific goalkeeper Mark Village just got his fingertips on.

Newcomer to the Pacific FC squad Alexander Gonzalez beat two Cavalry players, and slotted a pass to Issey Nakajima-Farran at the top of the box but the final shot took a slight deflection off a defender and sailed over the bar and out of harms way (65’). Just a minute later, Büscher doubled the Cavalry lead in the match, calmly side-footing the cross from Malyk Hamilton past Village and into the back of the net (66’).

Pacific FC were able to get one back with 15 minutes remaining. Terran Campbell put in a beautiful cross after the home side turned the ball over and Haber was able to head it back past the Cavalry keeper to get the visitors on the scoreboard, making the score 4:1 on aggregate (74’).

Cavalry FC’s starting XI featured Canadian goalkeeper Nikolas Giantsopoulos alongside the All-Canadian defensive line of Dominik Zator (who captained the home side), Joel Waterman, Dean Northover, and Malyk Hamilton. The midfield was formed by Julian Büscher, Carlos Patino, and Canadian Mauro Antunes Eustaquio. Jordan Brown formed the attack up front with Canadians Gabriel Bitar and Nico Pasquotti.

Cavalry coach Tommy Wheeldon Jr. made his first change in the 63’, bringing on Nathan Mavila in the place of Pasquotti. Sergio Camargo came on three minutes later for Brown (66’) and Eustaquio was replaced by Victor Loturi in the 71’.

The Pacific FC Starting XI was backstopped by Canadian goalkeeper Mark Village. The visitors’ backline featured Canadians Lukas MacNaughton and Emile Legault along with Blake Smith and Ryan McCurdy. Canadians Ben Fisk, Alessandro Hojabrpour, and Noah Verhoeven joined newcomer Alexander Moreno Gonzalez in the midfield. Canadian Marcus Haber captained the home side and led the attack alongside fellow Canadian Issey Nakajima-Farran.

Pacific FC coach Michael Silberbauer made his first substitution during the first half, replacing Noah Verhoeven with fellow Canadian Zachary Verhoven in the 31’. Canadian Terran Campbell entered the match for Fisk at halftime and Canadian Matthew Baldisimo came on for Hojabrpour (73’).